I want to give a fast "shout out" to the Arcada Theater. It's a beautiful old "Chicago" theater, similar to something like the Rialto in Joliet. They have a lot of great acts come through, and the staff is so very helpful and warm. If you live in the Chicagoland area, you should check it out. You won't be sorry you did.
I have to tell you, concert buddy, Kate is "helping" me write this blog so I don't forget anything; meaning peering over my shoulder and bossing me around. It's MY BLOG, Kate! Kate says I'm the bossy one. She's probably right...
If you live in the Chicagoland area, or if you've been tracking the weather this winter, you know that we've been knee deep in snow since December. We even had freezing temperatures (and snow) earlier this week. But, by some act-of-God miracle, the snow melted and we had sunshine with temps in the low 60s, so Kate and I decided we'd get to town early and explore the St. Charles downtown area. We arrived at the theater around noon and took dorky selfies with the venue's Ricky Nelson Remembered poster in the background. The pics turned out AWFUL, but we tweeted them to Nelson anyway (yes, Kate, because we are GIANT DORKS). As it turned out, there was a Starbucks next door to the venue. And, oh MY! We LIKE Starbucks don't we, Kate! Consequently, we sat and chatted the afternoon away in a cozy spot we found in Starbucks.
If you follow me on Twitter, FB or Instagram, you know that I LOVE music, especially 80s hair band/metal, and if you know me/follow me you know that my two FAVORITE BANDS of ALL TIME are NELSON and Bon Jovi, so I was really excited about seeing the show later that evening. By the way, I had NEVER seen Nelson in concert before. When Nelson did their big show in Chicago in the early 90s, I was standing up in a wedding that day and couldn't be there. As Kate could tell you, because I've listened to Nelson for so many years, and had not yet seen them perform, I was flustered and SHAMELESSLY fangirling all day! (Yes, Kate. Just like I am now writing this blog.) After all, I'd been waiting 24 YEARS for this show. Kate wants me to let you know that Nelson is one of her all time FAVORITE bands too. (She says "hashtag" TeenIdols!)
A while later, Kate decided she didn't like where she was parked and wanted to move her car. I was strolling along outside waiting for Kate when I saw an usher arrive for work at the venue. I asked him if he knew what time Nelson would be going on that night because we weren't sure if we wanted to watch the opening band. He said, "Come on in and we'll find out." Come in early? Is that OK? He assured me that it was fine and I told him that I had to wait for my friend to finish parking her car. BUT KATE TAKES FOREVER TO PARALLEL PARK! Back and forth, and back and forth... JUST PARK THE D*MN CAR KATE! I was trying to wave her in so that we could go with the usher, but she just smiled and waved back and kept parking her car. By the time Kate got to me, the usher had given up and gone away--not joking.
We ventured inside anyway to ask the big "scary" security guard what time Nelson was going on stage, and guess what? The security guard ended up being a super nice guy! He told us to wait "right there" while he went in the theater to find out for us. While we were waiting "right there," we could see through a tiny opening between the doors to the stage. Kate and I were FLOORED to see Matthew and Gunnar RIGHT ON THE STAGE! The security guard came back to tell us to be in our seats no later than 5:30 pm, and then let us in on a little secret (that I PROMISE we didn't tell anyone--we were SWORN to secrecy) that Nelson would be joining the opening band for their last song. We thanked him for that info and ASSURED him we'd be in our seats for the opening band. He was asked us if we were big Nelson fans. The answer? YES! WE ARE!
He immediately invited us to come in to the back of the theater with him for a few minutes. (Kate and I STILL can't believe he did that!) He was laughing at us as we were swooning over our fav guys and asked us if this brought us back to our teenage years. "You have NO IDEA," we both responded. THEN Kate took out this pic that she had of Gunnar signing her shirt in 1991.
The guard thought Kate's pic was so cool that he asked if she'd like it autographed. WHAT??? IS HE FOR REAL??? YES, OF COURSE she wanted it autographed! I got out my Lightning Strikes Twice CD and asked if that could be signed too. He didn't seem to think that would be a problem. He told us that they are the NICEST guys that have come to perform at the theater. He said that he couldn't put into words just how "great they are."
Then he asked if we'd like to meet them. Uh, yeah! He said that he would have to ask Matthew and Gunnar, but he didn't think it would be a problem. He relayed the time and place where we were to rendezvous with him so that he could take us backstage if they were agreeable to meet us. After that, we let our new security guard best buddy get back to his "real work."
We went back to Kate's perfectly parallel parked car (Kate's calling me a smart a**! HA!), and just sat there wondering, "Did that really just happen?" A few minutes later the security guard came walking around the corner with our autographs! OK. It's the day after the show and I'm still TOTALLY freaked out! #Fangirling! Here's the pic of my autographed CD (below)!
We barely composed ourselves. Just. Barely. And when it was the designated time, we headed back to the Arcada Theater to meet our new best buddy security guard (whose name I remember, but don't want to use here). It ended up that the schedule to go backstage to meet Matthew and Gunnar had changed, so we made our way to our seats. GOOD SEATS! (You're welcome, Kate!) I snagged the good seats for us! ;)
The opening band was The Cadillac Casanovas. The crowd--mostly Ricky Nelson fans--loved them. The Cadillac Casanovas said that they do a lot of The Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson songs. And as promised by our security guard friend, Matthew and Gunnar took the stage with The Cadillac Casanovas for their final song, a Ricky Nelson song, called You Know What I Mean. The whole crowd was so excited. It was such a great moment.
After a short intermission, Matthew and Gunnar came on stage to perform Ricky Nelson
Matthew and Gunnar shared sweet, I mean sweet--heartfelt, stories from their youth about their family, including their dad and thier grandparents, Ozzie and Harriet. The show also included video clips from the Ozzie and Harriet Show, and a home video from when Matthew and Gunnar were little. They kept the audience laughing with their playful brotherly banter throughout the show, which was absolutely charming.
And YESSS!! Nelson fans, they did Love and Affection! It was SO NICE to hear a Nelson song!
During the intermission, we found our security guard buddy, just as he'd asked us to, so that he could take us to meet Matthew and Gunnar.
While we were waiting, we were standing next to the lead singer from The Cadillac Casanovas. He was saying how Matthew and Gunnar are the NICEST guys (seems like I've heard that somewhere), and that he couldn't believe that Ricky Nelson's sons did a song with him. He told us that Ricky Nelson is his hero, and that to play with "Ricky's sons" was a "dream come true." I'm not exaggertaing his words. He kept repeating that he just couldn't believe that it had happened, and what really great guys they are.
Now it was time for us to go backstage, and by this time the whole security crew somehow knew who we were and were asking us if we were OK and still breathing! HAHA! Wait! We're not sure! Are we still breathing? They were getting ready to place bets on which one of us would pass out and which one of us would cry. We promised to keep it together! And, honestly, I AM STILL FLOORED that this happened, but here we are backstage with Matthew (left) and Gunnar (right)!
When we initially walked in the room I said, "Hey guys!" Matthew shook my hand and Gunnar shook Kate's hand first, and then we switched. (And, yes, Kate, I totally hogged Gunnar right after the handshakes!) Matthew immediately asked which was one Kate and which one was Erica! OMG!! They remembered our names from signing the autographs!! I mean, seriously. If I just met you, five minutes later, I probably would have to ask your name again, because I forgot. And MOST people that I've come across are that way. But here's our favorite rock stars and they knew our names! I'm STUNNED! After a quick pic with the guys, and managing NOT to pass out or cry (shout out to the security team), we made our way back to our seats. (By the way, I have to say here that the security team was careful to tell us that what they did for us is not something that they can do all the time. I totally didn't expect it THIS TIME as it was happening!)
I don't want to say much more about the show, because I WANT YOU TO GO SEE IT! It was SO GREAT! I will say this, Matthew and Gunnar invited the Cadillac Casanovas to the stage to play with them for a good portion of the second half of the show. The crowd--mostly my parents' age--LOVED it! And I was so happy for that lead singer who had already said that ONE SONG with "Ricky's sons" was a dream come true. I would have loved to know what was going through his head getting to do a "set" with the guys!
Toward the end of the show, Matthew and Gunnar played their song Just Once More. They dedicated this song to a family who just recently experienced the loss of someone near and dear to them. It was a very touching moment.
As the show was coming to a close, they announced that they were hanging around afterward to greet any fans that wanted to meet them. WHAT?? Are you KIDDING ME?? YES, we got in line for that!
Since Kate and I had already met them, we decided to go to the back of the line and let the other fans go first. Gunnar and Matthew are gracious to their fans. They signed autographs and/or took pictures with everyone in the line that wanted one.
When it was our turn, I asked if we could each have a picture with them. YES! WE COULD!
Here's Kate's pic (L to R, Gunnar, Kate and Matthew).
And here's mine! (L to R, Gunnar, me and Matthew).
Then Kate asked them if they would come back as Scrap Metal soon. Kate, I LOVE YOU! Thank you for asking them! Gunnar said that they just got a new manager for Scrap Metal recently and that they probably could. YAY!!! Then Kate turned to Matt and told him that they were her teen idols (Ricky Nelson has a song that they performed that night called Teenage Idol). Can I just take a minute to say that they CAN'T be my "teenage idols" because I was about 20 years old when they released their first Nelson CD! Kate's poking fun at me for being "older" than she is. You should hear her! GASPS! Between me and you, you ARE the "evil twin" Kate. Moving along with the story I started, Kate said to Matt that they were her "teen idols" and MATT GAVE KATE A BIG HUG!
MEANWHILE, Gunnar was talking to me, telling me the bands that are now involved in Scrap Metal, and in my peripheral vision, I see Kate getting a hug from Matt and I just about pass out! AND I TOTALLY MISSED what Gunnar was saying TO ME, which was TOTALLY STUPID because I am a GUNNAR GIRL!!! And all I could manage to squeak out to Gunnar was, "Awesome." DUH! Not my best moment ever.
We were saying our goodbyes when the security crew insisted that we get one more pic with Gunnar and Matthew! Well, OK. If you insist!! HAHA!
Here it is (L to R, Me, Gunnar, Kate, and Matt).
Man, Kate! I hope we get to meet them AGAIN when they come back as Scrap Metal. Kate says that shouldn't be a problem since we're "best friends" now (with Matt and Gun)! HAHAHAHA!! I just had to pick myself up off the floor and wipe tears of laughter from my eyes. Good one, Kate!
But truly, Nelson fans our age (Yes, Kate! I'm OLDER!), GO SEE THIS SHOW! Kate and I had a great time, and are really looking forward to (we hope, fingers crossed) Scrap Metal coming to Chicago.
Until next time...
All the Best,
Erica Basile
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